Gambling and online casinos in the United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has long been considered one of the most closed to gambling countries in the world.

Islamic law strictly prohibits any form of gambling, including betting, lotteries and casinos.

However, in recent years, amid economic diversification and tourism,

Emirati authorities have begun to cautiously change their approach to the entertainment industry.

Today, the UAE is a unique example of an Islamic country,

• where gambling is still officially banned,

but in fact, the transition to controlled legalization for tourists begins.

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Legal basis and prohibitions

The legislation is based on Sharia, which explicitly prohibits gambling (maysir, qimār) as a sin.

The country's constitution and criminal code enshrine this prohibition.

The basic laws are:

1. UAE Federal Penal Code (Articles 414-415) - prohibits the organization, participation and advertising of gambling.

2. Federal Cybercrimes Act (2021) - punishes online gambling.

3. Media and Publications Act (1980) - prohibits the promotion of casinos and betting sites.

Punishments:

Violation	Punishment
Gambling organisation	Jail up to 2 years and fine up to 500,000 dirhams
Participation in the game for money	Up to 6 months of arrest or a fine of up to D50,000
Online gambling or casino advertising	Up to 2 years in prison and blocking the site
Using VPN to access the casino	Administrative liability, fine up to AED 500,000

Thus, formally, all gambling in the UAE is completely prohibited.

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Tipping point: the transition to legalization

In 2023, the UAE government for the first time allowed the possibility of controlled casino tourism.

A new regulatory body has been set up -

• General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA),

which is responsible for licensing gambling projects and overseeing their activities.

The first officially approved project was Wynn Al Marjan Island Casino Resort

in the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah, which is scheduled to open in 2027.

This will be the first casino in the UAE designed for foreign tourists.

The $3.9 billion resort will be part of the Wynn Resorts network -

world operator from Las Vegas,

• and playrooms will operate under license,

restricting access for UAE citizens and Muslims.

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Current situation

Although legalization is not yet complete,

• The UAE is already actually moving towards a regulated gambling market,

focused on tourists and foreign investors.

Features of the current situation:

• casinos are not officially open yet;
• projects are being prepared in Ras al-Khaimah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi;
• regulated only offline gambling within resorts;
• online casinos remain outlawed but popular with expats.

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Online gambling

Despite the blockages,

residents and foreigners in the Emirates actively use offshore casinos:

• Stake, 1xBet, BetWinner, Parimatch, BC. Game, Bet365;
• Access via VPN and mirrors
• settlements are carried out in cryptocurrency (USDT, BTC, ETH) or on foreign cards.

The largest offshore platforms have adapted the interface for Arabic and English,

and Telegram groups offer anonymous deposits through intermediaries.

According to Arab Digital Report 2024,

more than 1.2 million UAE users bet annually in offshore casinos,

and the volume of the gray market is estimated at $2-3 billion per year.

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Control and supervision

The Internet in the country is tightly regulated.

Sites and VPNs are blocked by:

• Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA);
• Cybersecurity Council of the UAE;
• GCGRA (new regulator) - control of licenses and audit of casinos;
• Ministry of the Interior - the fight against illegal online games.

Any advertising or mention of gambling in the media or social networks

can lead to arrest and deportation for foreign nationals.

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Economic motives

The main reason for the change is the diversification of the economy.

After the fall in oil revenues, the authorities are looking for new sources of profit,

and tourism has become a priority industry.

Morgan Stanley (2024) forecasts,

legalization of casinos can bring the UAE up to $6 billion a year in tax revenues

and attract up to 10 million additional tourists annually.

The idea is especially actively supported by the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah,

• who wants to become "Arab Macau" -

center of resort and entertainment tourism without violating Islamic principles.

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Socio-cultural aspect

Among the population, the attitude towards gambling remains controversial:

• the older generation and religious leaders are strongly opposed;
• business elite and travel agencies - for partial legalization;
• young people and expats - actively support the idea of ​ ​ a "casino for foreigners."

Thus, the authorities are not presenting legalization as a departure from Islam,

• and as an element of the tourism industry,

limited by strict rules and an exception for citizens of the country.

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Prospects

2025-2027 - Launch of the first licenses and opening of Wynn Casino in Ras al-Khaimah;

2028 + - possible appearance of casinos in Dubai and Abu Dhabi (for foreigners);

the long-term goal is to create an "Arab Las Vegas Zone" under state control.

Online gambling, however, will remain banned,

at least until the advent of a special digital licensing law.

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The UAE is a country on the verge of a historic turn in gambling policy.

From a complete Sharia ban, the state is moving to a regulated model of casino tourism,

• preserving religious rigor for citizens,

but opening up opportunities for international business.

In the coming years, it is the UAE that can become the first Islamic country,

• where casinos will be officially allowed -

but only for tourists, and only under state supervision.